Contemporary Country Concepts BY JONATHAN HAMBY 1. Piano Intros COUNTRY MUSIC IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND INCORPORATING NEW Pana partsin country are becoming more Influences, but its focus is stl on strong songwriting. AS @ keyooardist, t's impor- streamlined and hook oriented, especialy the tant to think about how to add te what the band is playing, and how to support the rit hand. x. 2 demonstrates thie approach vocalist without overplaying or detracting from the ensemble’s Sound. Having had usingecaves. Youcan also try bulling sparse the epportunity to work with and learn trom some amazing musicians ard vocalists pian intros using singlenote figures eter lover the years, here are sore approaches | mignt use in differant parts of song, the same register or an octave dow. There aren ‘mang notsin tals example, but the challenge s te play dhe: right in ime with Uae drummer. So Ext J ue sag e-notes without swing 2. Wurly Turnarounds Bx. 2incorporates Benmant Tench-stjle“hammer-ons” and sounds peat on the Wurlitzer electric plano, Whether you are papi real ne throug com boamp ora plugin with medced effects, iin sme overdeve io hresk the sound up alte Contrary to Ue las exaple, sel shuld sya it Bee Jars HEED totes3. Organ Pads in Verses Often, the simplest partis eratiy what asong calls ora Bx. 3. For aballad ora verse that’s melo, use just ane ot two dravbars on your Hammond organ or Conewheel. You can pl ost theft and drawhars with your Lele on slow, and use ope voicings,espeilly as you playin lower registers. Use barimerone and the expret ‘on pedal toelp emphasise the bet Listen! "in Nashville currently, you hear an approach to keyboards that's more stripped-down than the traditional [and rore flowery] Floyd Cramer piano style." says Nashville keyboardist and producer Jonathan Hamby. “That's fone reason that the most important skil in country keyboards is Istening others.” Harioy has worked with artists including Amy Grant, Peter Cetera, and Carrie Underwood, «hilly 22r sonathan play “coed Git with Cane Underwood, and get audio examples for thi lesson. eee Leena Ce aay eet Beer iad ord er SE a pry, papers a WWW.ROBPAPEN.COMOrgan Pads in the Chorus 2a 4 is more Poca! Harum than uaditicna country, but works Aways sen for space to playin that comlements bt dest confit with other parts, eepecily the lad vocal. Thi i something yu might pay in chorus or an "up" part a ong, As you play higher n the Keyboard the woiinga be ‘ome owe with stand secans-iversion triads. Pll more drabers, turn an the chores, and/or change Go eae peed to hep things teresting, Ex 4. Organ Solos Trstrursental break give you the opportunity to step out. If youre doing song with enre traditions] country fel, youcan change things up with some Gorpelinfiuenced Hammond, ns in Bx. 5. Use your left hand forthe pistand For left-hand chords, dont overthink which notes you're bltng asthe Graton shouldbe shor enough to cesta percssve sound witht actually speling oct key center. Ten your harmonic pertssion on anialternate Lele sped on sustained notes. = MELD teen 120